Add a little MAGIC
Fantasy stories dwell deep inside the imagination of the author who creates them. This unique genre often features mythology, supernatural elements, and magic. Unlike genres steeped in reality, fantasy broadens the scope to allow for a vast array of possibilities limited only by the author’s creativity.
What is fantasy?
At their most basic, fantasy stories generally include magical and/or supernatural elements. (Sci-fi, its equally popular partner on the other side of the speculative fiction genre, tends to be more based in science and technology.) Modern-day witches and wizards, another realm that lies beyond a magical wardrobe, and modern cities protected by dragons are popular premises that already fall under this genre. Modern fantasy dates to the late 19th century, but when J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis came on the scene decades later, the genre took off. The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia set a strong precedent for good fantasy and are still referenced today by many looking to venture into this area of writing.
UNDERSTANDING FANTASY SUBGENRES
Within the larger umbrella of fantasy are subgenres that each have their own specific nuances. Here’s a list of some of the common ones you’ll see on bookshelves.
Epic fantasy
As the name implies, epic fantasy relates to the size and scope of their stories. They are long narratives told on a grand scale that typically involve a quest and a large cast of characters. One author who inspired and paved the wave for many young epic fantasy writers is Terry Brooks. The Sword of Shannara, his first book in the Shannara series, was published in 1977 and became the first fantasy novel to make the New York Times trade paperback bestseller list. Since then, Brooks has added 29 more books to that series, wrapping it up in October of 2020.
When asked what makes a good epic fantasy story, Brooks said it often draws on legends and Greek and Roman mythology, and it harkens back
